ORLANDO, Fla. — Jason Garrett addresses the off-season and speaks of the challenges that lie ahead. He responds to questions about his uncertain future as casually and as calmly as he discusses the competition at free safety or his recent trip to a Duke basketball game, where he shot jumpers with Tony Romo.

“It’s more of a set shot,” Garrett corrects as he describes the quarterback’s form.

Jones downplays the fact that Garrett is in the final year of his contract. Garrett told reporters Wednesday morning, a few hours before the conclusion of the NFL meetings, that the two sides haven’t really discussed an extension and his focus is in the moment.

That’s fine — for the moment. But if the Cowboys are unable to move the needle off 8-8, if this team extends the longest playoff drought of the Jones era to five seasons, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where Garrett returns.

This uncertainty doesn’t alter Garrett’s steadfast approach.

“You never want to deviate from what your core convictions are,” Garrett said. “Those can’t change. If they change, you’re just a guy figuring out which way the wind is blowing.

“That’s not what I’m all about, that’s not what our team is all about.”

Jones has given Garrett time to install his program. How does Garrett balance what works with what doesn’t work? What does he alter without looking like he’s wavering in his approach?

“I have a lot of beliefs about football, football teams, teams in general, how you coach,” Garrett said. “I have a lot of strong beliefs in that area. I’m convicted about a lot of those things just like any coach would be. I think it’s important you stick by those beliefs and philosophies and convictions.

Personnel. Schemes. Training routines. Practice times and patterns. Ways to communicate his message. These are what Garrett will tweak. This is where change occurs.

“That’s the evolution, the innovation, understanding what you have in terms of coaches and players,” Garrett said. “You’re doing that every day, every week, every year.

“But to me that’s different than what you believe in, who you are. All of a sudden I’m going to be this kind of coach. That doesn’t work. I learned that a long, long time ago.”

Garrett smiles when asked if the sense of urgency increases with each passing .500 season. He will tell you it’s there every minute of every day in the NFL.

True. But the pressure to win is undeniable and builds.

It has been said that pressure busts pipes. Coaches and players under pressure have been known to crack and behave out of character.

Another approach is to dig in even more and continue the same approach with a stubborn resolve.

“I don’t like the word stubborn,” Garrett said. “It’s just disciplined to what you believe in. That can’t change.

“You can’t try to copy someone else or try to be something you’re not. You have to be who you are. I think leaders understand that.”

Garrett understands these questions will continue. And again, he will tell people his philosophy is no different than it was as a player, which is to go out and work hard to be at his best each and every day.

“I wake up each and every morning to try to do what I can do as the head coach of this football team to help the Dallas Cowboys become a better football team,” Garrett said. “That’s really what I focus on.”

A focus grounded in his core principles.

“You always have to look for opportunities to grow, be creative in your thinking, be innovative,” Garrett said. “Those things are always on the table. You’re always trying to do that.

“But what you believe in can’t change. It’s about discipline. It’s not about being stubborn, my way or the highway.

“It’s just a core conviction of what you believe in and what your program to be all about.”

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